City Council approves $876.6 million budget for fiscal year 2010-2011

(June 15, 2010) - City Council today approved an $876,645,916 total budget for the City’s fiscal year 2010-2011 that includes a General Fund budget of $333,441,699. 

The adopted budget was Option #2 presented to the City Council on June 1.  This budget option did not require employee concessions and eliminated 100 positions; 51 vacant uniform positions and 49 non-uniform positions.   No police officers or firefighters will face layoffs and only 5 non- uniform employees are facing layoff.

Since developing the proposed budget, the City received better than expected May and June sales tax revenues.  The City Council was able to use the additional revenue to add $718,960 of services back into the budget:

• Metro Transit will continue peak hour service on Routes 8 and 40.   Route 8 extends from the downtown central business district to NW 63rd and Lyrewood Lane serving Shepherd Mall, Penn Square Mall, French Market Mall and the Waterford Marriott.  Route 40 extends from downtown to SW 104th and Santa Fe via south Walker serving Goodwill Industries, Southern Oaks Library and Wal-Mart.   Since expanding the service in July 2009 ridership has increased on both routes.  ($88,090)

• MetroLink services will continue with some realigning of routes to maximize ridership, and reduced service hours for the call center.  ($391,734)

• The Orange Line trolley service from downtown to the Meridian Stockyards area will continue to run eight hours per day on Friday and Saturday. ($46,854)

• The Fish Hatchery will remain open.  ($150,282)  Council requested staff to bring back fee increase proposals that will help raise half the cost of funding the operation.

• Foster Center, 614 NE 4, will continue to offer three programs: aquatics, martial arts and youth basketball. ($42,000)

 “Even in this current economic condition, we were able to put together a budget that would have a minimal effect on services our citizens receive,” City Manager Jim Couch said.  The May and June sales tax checks helped to restore some needed services that would have been eliminated.  Although sales tax revenues are improving slightly, we still face challenges next year.”

The City continues to negotiate with the three employee unions which may affect the 2010-2011 budget.  City employees are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 123; International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 157 and American Federal State County Municipal Employees, Local 2406.

The FY 2010-2011 budget is available in the Budget & Finance section on the City’s Web site, www.okc.gov.  The adopted budget will take effect on July 1.

Contact:  Kristy Yager, 297-2550